Portrait of Belgian-born American actress Audrey Hepburn (1929 - 1993) as she wears a strapless gown and holds white kid-gloved hands up to her chin, early 1950s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 1 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Portrait of Belgian-born American actress Audrey Hepburn (1929 - 1993) as she wears a strapless gown and holds white kid-gloved hands up to her chin, early 1950s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Actress Natasha Richardson attends the amfAR New York Gala at Cipriani on 42nd Street to kick off Fall 2009 Fashion Week on February 12, 2009 in New York City -- just a month before her untimely, fluke death. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Image 2 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Actress Natasha Richardson attends the amfAR New York Gala at Cipriani on 42nd Street to kick off Fall 2009 Fashion Week on February 12, 2009 in New York City -- just a month before her untimely, fluke death. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Actress Natasha Richardson attends the amfAR New York Gala at...Cipriani on 42nd Street to kick off Fall 2009 Fashion Week on February...12, 2009 in New York City -- just a month before her untimely, fluke...death. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

1st February 1942: American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959) sings in front of a microphone at a Sunday afternoon jam session at Ryan's on 52nd Street, New York City. (Photo by Charles Peterson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 5 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

1st February 1942: American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959) sings in front of a microphone at a Sunday afternoon jam session at Ryan's on 52nd Street, New York City. (Photo by Charles Peterson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

1st February 1942: American jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959)...sings in front of a microphone at a Sunday afternoon jam session at...Ryan's on 52nd Street, New York City. (Photo by Charles...Peterson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 6 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Walter Daran / Getty Images

American rock singer Janis Joplin (1943 - 1970) smiles and waves with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other while attending a party. She wears a fur hat. (Photo by Walter Daran/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 6 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

American rock singer Janis Joplin (1943 - 1970) smiles and waves with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other while attending a party. She wears a fur hat. (Photo by Walter Daran/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

American rock singer Janis Joplin (1943 - 1970) smiles and waves with...a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other while attending a...party. She wears a fur hat. (Photo by Walter Daran/Hulton...Archive/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 28: Robert F. Kennedy attends Clergy For Kennedy Campaign Rally on May 28, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. A week later, it was all over. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Image 9 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 28: Robert F. Kennedy attends Clergy For Kennedy Campaign Rally on May 28, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. A week later, it was all over. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 28: Robert F. Kennedy attends Clergy For...Kennedy Campaign Rally on May 28, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los...Angeles, California. A week later, it was all over. (Photo by Ron...Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Image 10 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Time Life Pictures / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Portrait of George Sand (1804-1876), French novelist. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 10 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Portrait of George Sand (1804-1876), French novelist. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Portrait of George Sand (1804-1876), French novelist. (Photo by Time...Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 11 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Ron Galella / WireImage

Don Knotts during Press Preview and Luncheon For "Three's Company" and "The Ropers" at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

Image 11 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Don Knotts during Press Preview and Luncheon For "Three's Company" and "The Ropers" at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

German-born political economist and Socialist Karl Marx (1818-1883). (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 25 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

German-born political economist and Socialist Karl Marx (1818-1883). (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

German-born political economist and Socialist Karl Marx (1818-1883). ...(Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 26 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Time Life Pictures / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Engraving of Greek philosopher Plato. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 26 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Engraving of Greek philosopher Plato. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Engraving of Greek philosopher Plato. (Photo by Time Life...Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 27 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Vince Bucci / Getty Images

Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins attends The International Women's Media Foundation's 2005 Courage In Journalism Awards on November 2, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. Ivins died of breast cancer at the age of 62 on January 31, 2007. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Image 27 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins attends The International Women's Media Foundation's 2005 Courage In Journalism Awards on November 2, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. Ivins died of breast cancer at the age of 62 on January 31, 2007. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins attends The International Women's...Media Foundation's 2005 Courage In Journalism Awards on November 2,...2005 in Beverly Hills, California. Ivins died of breast cancer at the...age of 62 on January 31, 2007. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Image 28 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Time Life Pictures / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Portrait of the Queen of France Marie Antoinette (1755-1793). who was excecuted along w. her husband Louis XVI of France during the French Revolution. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Image 28 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Portrait of the Queen of France Marie Antoinette (1755-1793). who was excecuted along w. her husband Louis XVI of France during the French Revolution. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Portrait of the Queen of France Marie Antoinette (1755-1793). who was...excecuted along w. her husband Louis XVI of France during the French...Revolution. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/Time Life...Pictures/Getty Images)

27th March 1948: Federico Fellini (1920 - 1993), Italian screenwriter and one of the world's most respected film directors of all time. His films combined dream and fantasy sequences with satire and autobiographical detail. He won Academy Awards for 'La Strada' 1954, 'Nights of Cabiria' 1956, '8 1/2' 1963 and 'Amarcord' 1974. He was awarded a Special Academy Award for his life's work in 1993. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4529 - Makers Of The World's Best Films - pub. 1948 (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Getty Images)

Image 38 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

27th March 1948: Federico Fellini (1920 - 1993), Italian screenwriter and one of the world's most respected film directors of all time. His films combined dream and fantasy sequences with satire and autobiographical detail. He won Academy Awards for 'La Strada' 1954, 'Nights of Cabiria' 1956, '8 1/2' 1963 and 'Amarcord' 1974. He was awarded a Special Academy Award for his life's work in 1993. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4529 - Makers Of The World's Best Films - pub. 1948 (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Getty Images)

27th March 1948: Federico Fellini (1920 - 1993), Italian screenwriter...and one of the world's most respected film directors of all time. His...films combined dream and fantasy sequences with satire and...autobiographical detail. He won Academy Awards for 'La Strada' 1954,...'Nights of Cabiria' 1956, '8 1/2' 1963 and 'Amarcord' 1974. He was...awarded a Special Academy Award for his life's work in 1993. Original...Publication: Picture Post - 4529 - Makers Of The World's Best Films -...pub. 1948 (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Getty Images)

circa 1932: Hollywood film actress Ann Harding (1901 - 1981), a former star of the stage on Broadway. One of the greatest actresses of the classic era, though few know her. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

Image 40 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

circa 1932: Hollywood film actress Ann Harding (1901 - 1981), a former star of the stage on Broadway. One of the greatest actresses of the classic era, though few know her. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

circa 1932: Hollywood film actress Ann Harding (1901 - 1981), a...former star of the stage on Broadway. One of the greatest actresses...of the classic era, though few know her. (Photo by General...Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

Guitarist Duane Allman of the Southern rock group the 'Allman...Brothers' holds his Gibson Les Paul electric guitar at Muscle Shoals...Studios on September 23, 1969 in Sheffield, Alabama. (Photo by Michael...Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Image 46 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Archive Photos / Getty Images

Bruce Lee publicity portrait, 1972. (Photo by Getty Images)

Image 46 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Bruce Lee publicity portrait, 1972. (Photo by Getty Images)

Bruce Lee publicity portrait, 1972. (Photo by Getty Images)

Image 47 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Bob Thomas/Popperfoto / Popperfoto/Getty Images

Royalty, Queens and Consorts of England, Illustration, Eleanor of Aquitaine, (1122-1204) who married Prince Henry who was to become King Henry II, She had 10 children, her favourite the famous King Richard the Lionheart (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 47 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Royalty, Queens and Consorts of England, Illustration, Eleanor of Aquitaine, (1122-1204) who married Prince Henry who was to become King Henry II, She had 10 children, her favourite the famous King Richard the Lionheart (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Royalty, Queens and Consorts of England, Illustration, Eleanor of...Aquitaine, (1122-1204) who married Prince Henry who was to become King...Henry II, She had 10 children, her favourite the famous King Richard...the Lionheart (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 48 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

John Kobal Foundation / Getty Images

16th May 1932: American silent screen comedian and actor Buster Keaton (1895-1966) dressed as a man about town. (Photo by John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)

Image 48 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

16th May 1932: American silent screen comedian and actor Buster Keaton (1895-1966) dressed as a man about town. (Photo by John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)

16th May 1932: American silent screen comedian and actor Buster...Keaton (1895-1966) dressed as a man about town. (Photo by John Kobal...Foundation/Getty Images)

Image 49 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Popperfoto / Popperfoto/Getty Images

A picture of Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), the English author, critic, lexicographer and writer (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 49 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

A picture of Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), the English author, critic, lexicographer and writer (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

A picture of Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), the English author,...critic, lexicographer and writer (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 50 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Ebet Roberts / Redferns

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 24: PALLADIUM Photo of AC DC and AC/DC and Bon SCOTT, Bon Scott performing live onstage (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Image 50 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 24: PALLADIUM Photo of AC DC and AC/DC and Bon SCOTT, Bon Scott performing live onstage (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 24: PALLADIUM Photo of AC DC and AC/DC and...Bon SCOTT, Bon Scott performing live onstage (Photo by Ebet...Roberts/Redferns)

Image 51 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

British Library/Robana / British Library/Robana via Getty

Harriet Tubman. Portrait. African-American abolitionist and Union spy during the American Civil War. She also campaigned for women 's suffrage, Author Sarah H. Bradford. (Photo by The British Library/Robana via Getty Images)

Image 51 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Harriet Tubman. Portrait. African-American abolitionist and Union spy during the American Civil War. She also campaigned for women 's suffrage, Author Sarah H. Bradford. (Photo by The British Library/Robana via Getty Images)

Drummer Keith Moon of the rock and roll band 'The Who,' poses for a portrait during a session at Griffith Park on February 27, 1968 in Los Angeles California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Image 60 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Drummer Keith Moon of the rock and roll band 'The Who,' poses for a portrait during a session at Griffith Park on February 27, 1968 in Los Angeles California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Drummer Keith Moon of the rock and roll band 'The Who,' poses for a...portrait during a session at Griffith Park on February 27, 1968 in Los...Angeles California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

President James K, Polk (1795-1849) became America's 11th President serving from 1845-1849 (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 64 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

President James K, Polk (1795-1849) became America's 11th President serving from 1845-1849 (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

President James K, Polk (1795-1849) became America's 11th President...serving from 1845-1849 (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 65 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Popperfoto / Popperfoto/Getty Images

Personalities, Science, pic: February 1944, A portrait of Professor Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German born US, physicist who formulated theories of relativity, and worked on radiation physics and thermodynamics (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Image 65 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Personalities, Science, pic: February 1944, A portrait of Professor Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German born US, physicist who formulated theories of relativity, and worked on radiation physics and thermodynamics (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Personalities, Science, pic: February 1944, A portrait of Professor...Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German born US, physicist who formulated...theories of relativity, and worked on radiation physics and...thermodynamics (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

circa 1950: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954), wearing a folk costume and flowers in her hair, leans her head on her hand while lying in a hammock. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 69 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

circa 1950: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954), wearing a folk costume and flowers in her hair, leans her head on her hand while lying in a hammock. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

circa 1950: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954), wearing a folk...costume and flowers in her hair, leans her head on her hand while...lying in a hammock. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Image 70 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Michael Ochs Archives

1933: Photo of Mae West Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Image 70 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

1933: Photo of Mae West Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1933: Photo of Mae West Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Image 71 of 71|Dead people you'd like to meet

Photoshot / Getty Images

Brian Jones (of 'The Rolling Stones') in January 1967. If you read Keith Richards' biography, meeting Jones doesn't sound like it would be much fun. (Photo by Monitor Picture Library/Photoshot/Getty Images)

Image 71 of 71 - Dead people you'd like to meet

Brian Jones (of 'The Rolling Stones') in January 1967. If you read Keith Richards' biography, meeting Jones doesn't sound like it would be much fun. (Photo by Monitor Picture Library/Photoshot/Getty Images)

A few weeks ago, I asked readers to list people from the past that they would most want to meet — that is, famous people, people out of history, not deceased relatives, but people we’ve never met but that make us wish we could go back in time.

The above gallery is the result, but there is plenty of room available for your suggestions. Please list them here — or send them to me at mlasalle@sfchronicle.com — and I’ll try to get them on.

Think about WHY you would like to meet each person. If it’s just to know what they’re like . . . well, anyone from the media age is fairly well preserved in terms of look and manner, while, say, Socrates, is a total mystery. On the other hand, if you’d really like to go on a date with Ava Gardner, who would say you shouldn’t?

Also think about whether you’d want to meet the person here, as in now, or back then.